ONE YEAR OF

MEGA FAILURES

 

 

·      FAILURE TO GOVERN

·      FAILURE TO KEEP PROMISES

·      FAILURE TO COEXIST POLITICALLY

·      FAILURE TO GIVE RELIEF TO MASSES

·      FAILURE TO PROTECT PAKISTAN

 

 

 

 

PML’S WHITE PAPER ON GOVERNMENT (MARCH 25, 2008 TO 2009)

 

 

 

ONE YEAR OF MEGA FAILURES – an executive summary

 

The objective of this summary is not just a reminder of the coalition government’s startling failure. More importantly it is an attempt to wake up from slumber a coalition government who is taking Pakistan nose-diving. It is thus not just a PML white paper. It is the voice of the people, the voice of all those patriotic Pakistanis who care about their nation’s sovereignty, prosperity and security.

 

1.      FAILURE TO GOVERN

·         Supremacy of parliamentary democracy made a mockery of

·         Parliament used as a debating society where no national interest based important decision was taken. Decisions taken by leaders not based on institutional inputs and were without consensus. 

·         4 bills passed by NA compared to 10 presidential ordinances

·         12 NA standing committees still without chairpersons

·         All unanimous resolutions adopted by NA not implemented- National Security 14 point Resolution openly violated manifold over.

·         Being in government but not governing

·         VIP culture persists despite past commitments

·         Incompetent Jumbo federal cabinet has broken all past records

·         frequent politically vested bureaucratic yoyo changes in provinces causing paralysis of governance/ job security issues.

·         Media freedom violated by censorship attempts, inability to protect journalist and fulfill commitments like 7th wage board award

·         Paralysed by past obsessions and failure to accept ownership of governance responsibility.

·         Provinces in a mess

Punjab, Sindh, NWFP, Balochistan, GB (detailed papers to follow suit)

·         Development projects at standstill

·         Local government system destroyed causing administrative failures

·         cheap popularity Rs1/2 discriminatory schemes causing issues between cities of Punjab and provinces

·         terrorism reached urban and rural areas with an intensity not seen earlier

·         daccoo culture, and street crimes increased

·         GB Oct reform package not delivered on, nor rights issue, nor boundary commission.

·         Mega wheat and urea crisis created provincial disharmony

·         NFC not resolved, CCI not met, issues on water resource sharing still unresolved and sacrosanct agreements not being adhered to.

·         Provincial harmony not promoted, discrimination rampant – Balochistan committees formed after one year and that too with no clear goals.

·         Despite treasury bench open court/kutcheries popularity of government nose-diving as per surveys.

·         Nationalist, ethnic, sectarian forces forming nexus with terrorism

 

 

 

 

 

2.      FAILURE TO KEEP PROMISES

·         Promises made on COD flaunted openly

·         Judges restoration promise of 30 days took 365 days and that too independent judiciary mechanics not resolved with potential for future paralysis.

·         10% of COD fulfilled, the rest ignored after one year of coalition government.

·         Promises made to people of Pakistan not honored

·         17th amendment abolition including 58 (2b) not done

·         Constitutional reform package not debated on despite all parties giving their draft bills on it.

·         Provincial autonomy promise not fulfilled, concurrent list not abolished despite promise.

·         BB enquiry investigation sent to UN, not trusting own security agencies, whilst admitting knowledge of murderer.

·         On important issues non-performing committees made to put issue in cold storage – Balochistan, FCR, NFC,

·         Election manifestos of ruling coalition not fulfilled in any province, govt busy in noora khusti instead.

·         100 day plan given by PM miserably missed

 

3.      FAILURE TO COEXIST POLITICALLY

·         Fastest growing controversial and unpopular President

·         5th on list of world loosers, popularity at 1% on real IRI poll.

·         Disrespectful amongst own cabinet members- senior cabinet members quit based on principles

·         Needed to be bailed out by son/party chairman who is hereditary heir to a so-called democratic party

·         PMLN abused President in parliament on governor rule decision and other coalition partners like ANP/JUI openly showed reservations over decisions made on WOT.

·         PM and President disconnects cost the nation bad decisions including list of U-turns on major decisions taken by a dysfunctional leadership

·         Promise of reconciliation made mockery off

·         One year of coalition honeymoon turning sour, leading to separation, divorce, then fake harmony has left Pakistan on verge of political chaos with standstill on development. Since only interested in maximum power grabbing and not serving the people/governing.

·         Degenerate politics of forward bloc and horse trading encouraged- PML mandate in Balochistan, Centre, Punjab, GB openly abused at the time of President elections, Senate elections, and now with governor rule in Punjab. All this through bribes, pressure tactics, favours, BBISP forms, and ministerial offers.

·         Street might preferred rather than civilized parliamentary politics

·         Political victimization of opposition crossed all limits with parchas reaching record numbers.

·         No truth and reconciliation committee formed yet

 

 

 

4.      FAILURE TO GIVE RELIEF TO MASSES

(one year comparison of what PML left in ‘virsa’ versus what govt did in one year)

·         Economic hardship and not relief a coalition government trademark

·         Commodity prices up by nearly 300%, common man affected badly, Inflation doubled, most expensive wheat in world (Rs940) and most expensive electricity (16c)

·         Poverty increased approx 40%- new survey promised on this no where in sight

·         Energy generation mismanagement failure galore- installed capacity of PML govt not utilized, payment circular debt cycle messed up badly, alternative energy not exploited, existing projects delayed, 3500MW shortage today,

·         DAP, dairy, textile R&D subsidies withdrawn

·         PSDP spending / releases down to Rs65b with overruns in 1900 projects.

·         Quality and number of utility stores not improved, infact on decline. 3500 employees fired so that new jiala bhartis could take place.

·         Rs 54b earning for government in last 8 months from petroleum products resulting in sky rocketing petroleum prices for consumers.

·         IMF bail out due to PML good economic record, unclear what temporary bailout brought for common man- Friends of Pak results poor.

·         Clean drinking water filtration plants in each UC target missed

·         Employment ‘jiala bharti syndrome’ (few examples)

·         Lecturers commissioned and adhoc suffering

·         OGDCL engineers not given jobs despite heavy Rs 130mm training

·         Nation Water course employee regularization not done

·         Employment commission scheme farce

·         Macro-economic indicators nose dived

·         GDP growth rate – 7.5% to 3.5% – actually probably 2%

·         Exchange rate stability rocked – Rs 60 to Rs 81

·         Trade balance worsened 200%, export, revenue collection, cotton (by 3mm bales) targets missed

·         Sensitive Price Index surged 21.08%

·         Foreign Direct investment down from $8.4 to $2.8

·         Stock market all time low from an all time high of 16,000 points, with closures and no capital market support or bail out of Rs25b as promised

·         Business indicators, climate, confidence at all time low

·         22 listed banks cumulative profit declined by 21%- 62% decline in corporate sector profitability

·         Cement plants operated at 59% capacity

·         FPCCI accused govt of not having ‘vision, priority, direction.’ And traders declared it as the worst trading year in Pakistan’s history.

·         70% countrywide industry closures due to power generation and business climate issues.

·         EU fishing standards missed and export revenue generation missed.

·         knowledge economy lost – IT budget from Rs 3.314 b to Rs1.976b

·         No success on international infrastructural agreements like Iran gas pipeline.

·         Mega projects delayed, becoming more expensive, no new initiatives. No forward movement on SEZ.

·         Manufacturing down: Less production of auto (units down to 48,886 from 91,450), electrical goods, cement etc)

 

·         Dismal economic international rankings for Pakistan

·         among the 43 countries most exposed to poverty risks

·         Moody’s rating from B+ to B3 stable to negative due to irresponsible statement of last finance minister amongst other failures

·         Pak the riskiest priciest debt to insure! Foreign debt liability crossed $45b and daily outflows avg around $70m.

·         IMF Standby Facility being offered is said to be the highest ever on a soft-loan mark up of 3.51% to 4.51% agreed to by any country for foreign currency bailout

·         from 74 to 77 out of 178 countries in terms of ‘doing business’ rankings

·         MDG progress report missing

·         International Competitive Index ranking dropped to 101 from 92. 

·         Human rights violations and social indicator deterioration

·         Karo kari, rapes, murders, acid burn victims on rise with no punishment and more cover up in sight

·         118 polio cases registered in 2008 as compared to 32 in 2007

·         2.2m children out of schools.

·         Ghost schools close to 10,000

·         Drug addict rise to 0.7mm and 1.7mm bonded peasants

 

5.      FAILURE TO PROTECT PAKISTAN

  • Terrorism uncontrolled, zero writ of government- zero results of the 3D policy!

·         7,997 killed / 9,670 injured in 2,148 incidents of violence during 2008. Whereas 3,448 killed / 5,353 injured in 1,535 incidents during 2007. The number of suicide attacks and beheadings has increased from 23 in 2007 to over 63 attacks in 2008. 2008 most violent year in a decade for Balochistan and Number of targeted killings rose to aprox 400.

·         Law & order causing brain drain and fear of living in Pakistan.

·         Law enforcement personnel hit most and no budget SOP enhancements in sight.

·         No results of National Commission for Counter Terrorism or policing issue committee for NWFP/Balochistan yet despite commitments

·         Peace deals and jirgas failed in one year to maintain peace due to lack of full ownership by leadership especially since AZ on record as having said no deal signed on Swat

·         Talibanization spreading from FATA to settled areas fast.

·         Over 650,000 IDPs not been given justice or human rights. Lack of planning for their rehabilitation and even being baton charged.

·         Foreign companies and citizens not protected in NWFP and Balochistan. Embarrassing that security money asked for and that kidnapping world news.

·         No mainstreaming efforts underway of FATA and other areas of Pak. FCR regulation still inconclusive. ROZ progress standstill.

·         Pakistan ranks 10th among 14 countries where journalists have been killed, the 2009 Global Impunity Index

·         Global Peace Index ranking in 2008 was 127 vs 115 earlier out of 140 countries.

 

  • Sovereignty eroded and international agendas followed at cost of own foreign policy imperatives

·         Drone attacks went up from 19 (2007-8) to 53 (2008-9). PM promises that with Obama will come change useless and national security resolution violated. First time boots on ground accepted (Angoor adda).

·         Head of state irresponsible statements on giving away first strike use.

·         Foreign ambassadorial interference in domestic issues increased.

·         Indian help taken for IMF loan!

·         Government not recognized that there is an international strategy of encirclement of Pakistan which is trying to label it failed state, migraine, main culprit disturbing world peace, with nuke capability unchecked. No campaign launched to fix these perceptions.

·         Post Mumbai dismally defensive posture weakened Pak significantly- Indian state terrorism not discussed internationally.

·         China bilateral not protected, first visit not made, appointments missed, projects being delayed, decisions not being shared on priority (JD in UN) and citizens not being protected.

·         RAW involvement in destabilizing Pakistan not fully explained to the world or domestically. Indian presence in Afghanistan left unchecked.

·         Leadership did not defend state security institutions under attack from foreign forces. Infact they tried to weaken it by change of control.

·         No forward movement on Composite Dialogue with India including on Kashmir & Water issues.

·         Ranked 9 in failed state index in 2008 whereas it was on 12 in 2007.

·         Response to President Obama’s Pak-Afghan policy unsatisfactory- Kashmir and India should have been included to lessen tensions and enhance regional approach- Obama policy should have been brought to parliament before approval given by coalition leaders, allegation that ALQ base shifting to Pak from Afghanistan should not have been accepted, contact group to be Afpakin based not Afpak, no blank checks to be accepted without discussion of core disputes.

·         No mechanism to resolve national security issues with participation of all organs of state.

Failure to protect Pakistan from corruption and foreign agendas

·         Country rank in corruption index up by 42 points in one year.

·         Leadership personal vested interests have made public sector corporations fall so that corporate takeovers are facilitated. KESC, Pak Steel etc. Security related organizations like FAB being flooded with non qualified people for corporate takeovers.

·         Thar Coal being invested in by Indians vs Chinese- Gawadar management control crisis created to favour those foreign powers who are not real allies.

·         Pakistani large entrepreneurial groups being forced out of Pakistan with corporate takeovers. Banking sector equally affected.

·         Stock exchange deliberate fall so that foreign buy out of stocks by vested interests could take place.

·         new policy of 26% shares of 21 state-owned enterprises will give management control away to foreign agendas.

·         Forced privatization of profitable state owned also not acceptable- Qadirpur and Kunar were under attack.